LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1054, 18 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

• : ' . Yesterday morning the Mayor, received tho following telegram from thb Prune.. Minister (Sir J.. G. Ward): "With reference to the request of. the deputation of tho allied,sports bodies, for assistance towards sending .New Zealand representatives to the Festival Of Empiro gathering, the Government will give a pound for pound subsidy, up to £500, that is if that amount is subscribed, the Government • will give £250 or any less amount, half tho'total. of. same." The messago as received 1 seems to contain. ; au.clement of contra-, diction, but presumably it means that] the, Government is,prepared to contribute a' sum not exceeding £250, hi-'tho. shape of a pound for pound subsidy upon the amount collected by the athletic bodies for the pprposo named.

The tender,.of a. Wellington firm of builders has' been accepted foi 1 the erection of a'-largo, new convent to bo built "John's Hill, Wanganui: ■ Tho cost of the, building, tho plans for which vvero prepared by Mr. John S. Swan, this city, will be about £18,000.

! The case James Flowers,' wharf labourer, v. tho Wellington Wharf Labourers'- Union, 'a claim for £175 damages, mandamus,' and injunction, which .set.. down, for hearing in, the. Supremo. Court yesterday, was .put further down the list, one of tho counsol Hi.the case being engaged on another action.

Before leaving for Australia yesterday tho members of tho Plimmer-Den-niston Company subscribed, tho sum. of £10 ill, aid of those who suffered so disastrously in tho fatal firo at Auck- ■ land. Mr. Charles Waud, whose daughters, Mesdames Mountfo'rd and Portcous were severely injured, and whoso grandchildren were burned to 'death, was conductor of tlio company's orchestra during tho latter part of its tour in New Zealand.

Mr. H. N. Holmes has received a telegram from l)r. Henry, who is at present with Mr. J. C. Farquhar conducting a mission in Timaru,-that Sunday last was tho greatest day tlioy had yet experienced in their missions throughout Now Zealand. There'were over 100 adult confessions, including 50 men at the afternoon meeting.

A party of nino American tourists are 'earning 'to New Zealand "by the Corinthic, • word to that effcct having been'received at the local Tourist Office. The party will, it is expected, make a complete tour of tho Dominion.

The tourist traffic in ( New Zealand so far this season has exceeded, the records of any previous year. Never before havo tho popular resorts been so severely taxed. for accommodation.' A largo number of Australians have been among tho tourists. •

1 Our Palmerston North correspondent states that a meeting, of ratepayers is to bo hold on Monday evening next with the object of forming a Biver Board to deal with tho llanawatu River, probably from tho Gorge to the Longburn Bridge.

The Minister for Agriculture has received advice from tho Director of the Army. Contracts for tho supply of'preserved meat to the War Office, London. The tender; will close on April -3. A form of tender, quoting all particulars; may be obtained on application to the Director of Commerce, Public -Trust Buildings, "Wellington.

For several years past the Government. has been trying to obtain live specimens of the huia, and several expeditions that have been fitted out'have returned without meeting with any Success. Among many people it is thought that the luiia has gono 'thc samo way as _ the moa and other nativo birds. This opinion, however, seems to be a little premature. Wo have met several enthusiastic: expert ornithologists (says tho Napier "Tribuno") who are quito certain that the liuia is not extinct'. Tho latest information is that in tho direction of-Mount Holdswortli (Wairarapa) tho distinctive notes of this bird have been heard.

Tho painters engaged on tho ro-paint-ing of tho Auckland Government Houso havo had tho unusual cxpcrienco of haying to paint round a swarm of bees, which for several years past havo made their homo behind a coat of arms on the upper part of the front walls of tho building. 'The, swarm is a very largo one, and the novel hive apparently contains a large quantity of honey. Tho bees are being left in undisputed possession, but, needless to say, the painters' brushes havo not been wielded with any great vigour in the vicinity of the' hivo.

At a special- meeting. yesterday tho City, Council accepted the tender of Messrs. P. It. Baillie and Co. for the supply, of steel tyres for the tramway department!

The organ in St. , John's Church, which lias been undergoing extensive repairs and improvements,-is to bo reopened to-morrow ovoliing. The instrument, which has always been regarded as a very fine one, lias, according to Mr. Mauglinn Harnett, been greittly improved in tone and in many other respects. Dr. Gilib will conduct a service of praise, and special anthems, etc., will bo rendered by tho choir.

His Excellency Lord Islington has intimated his intention to' bo present at the farewell banquet to tho llight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward and tho Hon. Dr. Findlay, to be held in the Town Hall Concert Chamber 011 Wednesday, March 1. Sir Robert Stout, Chief Justice, will occupy tho chair and proposo the toast of the guests. As the. accommodation at the Town Hall is limited, Mr. Dykes, tho secretary, will bs glad if those gentlemen who intend being present at tho banquet will purchase their tickets as early m possible.

Tho ratepayers of Newmarket were called upon to voto upon a Creator Auckland proposal on Wednesday. Tho proposal was rejected by 364 to 179 votes'.

After a month's sojourn in Australia, Mr. E. Davis (Mayor of Newmarket) has returned, convinced that the people of Australia think littlo or nothing about New Zealand. "While I was there," 110 said to a reporter, "Inever once heard a mention of New Zealand, and I saw nothing about ■it in ' the Australian newspapers, except perhaps a statement or two by Sir Joseph Ward. While in New Zoaland ive possess a wonderful littlo country, wo must not forget that it is little, and that outside of it people are scarcely aware that it exists."